THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY OF BOSTON:
When your looking for a little bit of culture - Boston's got it all...

Museums and Historical Sites
If you´re looking for history, Boston´s the place. Our story starts way back in 1614, when Captain John Smith explored this area, declared it "New" England, and named the Charles River. It wasn´t until 1630, however, that John Winthrop and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Company first settled the Shawmut peninsula, calling it Tremount for its three prominent hills (only Beacon Hill remains, itself greatly diminished). Soon after, they changed the name to Boston, in honor of Boston, England, the hometown of many Puritans. And in 1632, Boston became the capital of Massachusetts. The English colonists were not the first ones here, though. For thousands of years, Native American tribes that included the Wampanoag, Nipmuck, and Massachuset lived in what is now eastern Massachusetts.

Professional and Collegiate Sports
For baseball tradition, nothing can compare with a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the nation´s oldest baseball stadium. Maybe they haven´t won a World Series since Babe Ruth played for the Sox in 1918 . . . but this must be the year. 617/267-1700

You´ll be able to show your "Boston Celtic pride" at games in the new FleetCenter, also home to Boston Bruins hockey. The FleetCenter can be reached at 617/624-1000.

Football´s New England Patriots play at Foxboro Stadium, just southwest of the city. Boston´s professional soccer team, the Revolution, shares the Foxboro field. For more information about Foxboro events call 1-800-543-1776.

The U.S. Tennis Championship at Longwood is a week-long event held each year at the Longwood Cricket Club in neighboring Brookline, Massachusetts. 617/731-4500

Each October, Boston is home to the Head of the Charles Regatta. Over 800 men´s and women´s crew teams from around the world participate. Shells leave the Boston University Boathouse about every ten seconds. Thousands of spectators gather along the banks of the Charles River to watch and cheer their teams on to victory.

Throughout the year, local college and university teams--including the Boston University Terriers--provide exciting sports action as well. Crew, field hockey, basketball, and ice hockey top the list of the many intercollegiate sports played throughout greater Boston.

Amateur Activities
Amateur athletes can be found jogging, running, in-line skating, and biking along the banks of the Charles River, particularly on the Esplanade (site of the world´s greatest Fourth of July extravaganza). You can also rent a sailboat and let the breeze carry you down the Charles.

But perhaps the best-known amateur event is the Boston Marathon. Each year on Patriots´ Day (a Massachusetts state holiday on the third Monday in April), the Marathon is run from Hopkinton, Mass. to Copley Square in Boston. The 104nd running will take place on April 17, 2000

Music
Musically, Boston is among the most sophisticated cities in the country. Any night of the week you can hear top performers in rock, jazz, classical, and country. Many events are free. A Boston tradition for more than 100 years, during its October through April season the Boston Symphony Orchestra performs in historic and elegant Symphony Hall. From early May until early July, members of the Orchestra become the famous Boston Pops, playing light classical and popular music and show tunes. Both orchestras can be reached at 617/266-1492.

Fans of contemporary music may already know of Boston´s reputation as a proving ground for rock and jazz musicians: Aerosmith (with their own Boston nightclub), Gary Burton, Juliana Hatfield, the Lemonheads, Letters to Cleo, and even disco diva Donna Summer all trace their roots to Boston.

Theatre
You can catch pre-Broadway tryouts as well as popular musicals touring their way across the country in the Theatre District. The Boston Ballet also performs there at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts. 617/695-6950.

The Huntington Theatre Company has been the professional theatre company in residence at Boston University since 1982. It mounts productions of five plays per season, attracting performers and other artists from around the world. The company´s productions of classics and superior contemporary plays enjoy popular and critical acclaim. 617/266-0800

Boston is also home to "Sheer Madness," the longest-running nonmusical play in theatre history. Since 1980 audiences have been enjoying this comedy-murder mystery, in which they help solve the murder by questioning suspects and reconstructing events. Ongoing at the Charles Playhouse, Stage II. 617/426-5225




Admissions Home Page: Student Life: Around the Town

Shopping

You will never run out of places to shop in Boston. From the fashion boutiques and cafés of Newbury Street to large indoor malls, you´re sure to find whatever you´re looking for.

If you want a bargain on clothing, accessories, or gift items, try the original Filene´s Basement in Boston´s Downtown Crossing shopping district. Nearly 20,000 shoppers each day--including Boston University students -- check out the overstock merchandise that the Basement purchases from the most glitzy stores in the nation, and direct from manufacturers. Though once part of the same company, the Basement, founded in 1908, is no longer affiliated with the Filene´s department store.

Can´t find what you´re looking for there? Head over a few blocks to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where three buildings (Central Building, South Market, North Market) offer hundreds of retail shops and restaurants. 617/338-2323

About a block from Faneuil Hall Marketplace, you´ll find your source for the freshest and least expensive fruits and vegetables. The Haymarket is a wonderful farmers´ market open every Friday and Saturday. Meat and cheese is also available at surrounding shops.

Hungry yet? Haymarket is just about a block from the North End, Boston´s Italian-American neighborhood. Great restaurants and cafés are found every several feet.